Locals weigh in on why female ridership is on the rise

Published: Sunday, November 25, 2012 at 12:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 23, 2012 at 12:13 p.m.

Control and freedom are the commonalities found among women bikers. That's why, some local female riders say, female motorcycle ridership is rapidly growing.

“Women riders are actually on a rise,” said Celeno Naquin, Mike Bruno's Bayou Country Harley-Davidson's marketing coordinator. “It's one of the highest-growing parts of the industry right now out of people buying bikes. Women have really stepped forward, and even within our dealership we've noticed a rise in our customers being women. It's really great that they're coming out of their shells. They're gaining their own independence, their own freedom. And we love it.”

The number of women motorcycle operators in the U.S. has increased slowly to about 7.2 million of about 27 million overall in 2009, according to the latest survey by the Motorcycle Industry Council. About 1 in 10 owners are women, said Cam Arnold, vice president for the trade group.

Dozens of female-only motorcycle clubs have joined more established groups like California-based Women on Wheels.

Naquin doesn't ride because she's a “bad defensive driver,” she said. “I'm aware of this. I'm comfortable with being on the back of a bike, so I ride with my husband.”

But several local women do ride, like Merril Matherne, who says the sense of control she gets on her bike is unparalleled.

She vows to never ride on the back. In fact, that's how she was introduced to riding a short five years ago.

“My husband wanted a Harley, and at the time, I didn't have a very good opinion of bikers. I didn't want to have anything to do with it, so I thought I would get him off of it by telling him ‘I'm not riding on the back of one of those things, so you're going to have to buy two.' I thought that would do it. But he bought it. He actually came home with two bikes. So I got my bike and I've been on it since, and you can't get me off of it now. I love it,” the 70-year-old Matherne said. “I do not ride on the back. I never will. It's not fun. I don't think it's fun. I kind of like to be in control. I like to see what's out there and feel it.”

Matherne, as well as riders Cyndi Hart and Kimbley Rodrigue, said the men in their lives aren't intimidated by a girl who can handle a motorcycle. They are often complimented by men and women, even those who don't ride.

“It doesn't intimidate my husband at all,” Matherne said with a laugh. “He likes an independent woman. At least, I trained him that way.”

The first day Matherne returned home from the Department of Motor Vehicles with her motorcycle endorsement, her Medicare card had arrived in the mail.

“A new chapter in a senior citizen's life,” she joked. “It's been the most fun I've ever had in all my life.”

Hart, 35, has been riding for 12 years.

She was also introduced to riding by her husband.

“At first I was like ‘I am not getting on that thing. There is no way you're getting me on that thing,' ” Hart said. “But he took me for a ride, and I was in love.”

Although she sees many positive reactions, Hart said she constantly gets looks when she's riding because her bike is what's considered a big bike for a woman.

“I ride a Fat Boy and for most people that's a bigger bike for a woman, so I get hoots and hollers and a ‘whoa is she really on that bike?' kind of thing,” Hart said. “But a lot of guys are actually impressed. They're like ‘good for you girl,' or ‘you go girl,' so it's a lot of fun. I really enjoy it.”

Hart rides on the back with her husband's bike but said she prefers to be in control.

Kimbley Rodrigue, who's been riding for about seven years, said she likes the control too, but is really into the freedom she feels on her bike.

“It's not just control but also a sense of freedom,” Rodrigue said. “The stress stays home. It's really the best stress medicine that anybody can take. It's like, you let the wind blow and it just clears your mind and it calms you, so when you get back home you can handle anything you want to handle after that.”

Rodrigue said she enjoys the ever-changing scenery when she goes for a ride.

“It's like you're clicking and changing the channel while you're riding, and you get to see all that God has done around you,” she said.

Rodrigue said her husband, Brian, is “proud as a peacock” to have a biker wife.

“Except for when I had a bigger bike than I have now and my husband would get kind of jealous cause all the men would say ‘man that's a woman on that bike,' ” Rodrigue said. “I'd just smile and put my thumb up and they'd smile and put their thumbs up.”

Rodrigue, Hart and Matherne agreed their riding seems to empower other women who don't ride.

Women in cars often honk the horn and “give props saying things like ‘that's a girl on a big bike. That's awesome,' ” the ladies said.

“So it gives you a sense of pride,” Rodrigue added.

The American Motorcyclist Association has about 225,000 members. The number of women riders is less than 10 percent, but the number of new women members has increased, driven in part by a higher profile for women on two wheels, more training opportunities and better equipment, said AMA board member Maggie McNally.

The makers of bikes and gear are reaching out to women like never before through special events and marketing campaigns that include Harley-Davidson's “No Doubts. No Cages.” program.

Women no longer have to endure jackets, gloves and helmets designed for men. And it's easier to find or modify bikes for shorter bodies, said McNally, the AMA's vice chairwoman and the highest-ranking female in the group's 75-year history.

Staying true to their femininity, the local women riders said they'd be remiss if they didn't express one other joy about being a biker chick — the clothes.

“You've got to have the bling,” Hart said.

Staff Writer Kris Johnson

can be reached at 857-2207 or kris.johnson@houmatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter @krisLjo.

<p>Control and freedom are the commonalities found among women bikers. That's why, some local female riders say, female motorcycle ridership is rapidly growing. </p><p>“Women riders are actually on a rise,” said Celeno Naquin, Mike Bruno's Bayou Country Harley-Davidson's marketing coordinator. “It's one of the highest-growing parts of the industry right now out of people buying bikes. Women have really stepped forward, and even within our dealership we've noticed a rise in our customers being women. It's really great that they're coming out of their shells. They're gaining their own independence, their own freedom. And we love it.” </p><p>The number of women motorcycle operators in the U.S. has increased slowly to about 7.2 million of about 27 million overall in 2009, according to the latest survey by the Motorcycle Industry Council. About 1 in 10 owners are women, said Cam Arnold, vice president for the trade group.</p><p>Dozens of female-only motorcycle clubs have joined more established groups like California-based Women on Wheels.</p><p>Naquin doesn't ride because she's a “bad defensive driver,” she said. “I'm aware of this. I'm comfortable with being on the back of a bike, so I ride with my husband.” </p><p>But several local women do ride, like Merril Matherne, who says the sense of control she gets on her bike is unparalleled. </p><p>She vows to never ride on the back. In fact, that's how she was introduced to riding a short five years ago. </p><p>“My husband wanted a Harley, and at the time, I didn't have a very good opinion of bikers. I didn't want to have anything to do with it, so I thought I would get him off of it by telling him 'I'm not riding on the back of one of those things, so you're going to have to buy two.' I thought that would do it. But he bought it. He actually came home with two bikes. So I got my bike and I've been on it since, and you can't get me off of it now. I love it,” the 70-year-old Matherne said. “I do not ride on the back. I never will. It's not fun. I don't think it's fun. I kind of like to be in control. I like to see what's out there and feel it.” </p><p>Matherne, as well as riders Cyndi Hart and Kimbley Rodrigue, said the men in their lives aren't intimidated by a girl who can handle a motorcycle. They are often complimented by men and women, even those who don't ride. </p><p>“It doesn't intimidate my husband at all,” Matherne said with a laugh. “He likes an independent woman. At least, I trained him that way.” </p><p>The first day Matherne returned home from the Department of Motor Vehicles with her motorcycle endorsement, her Medicare card had arrived in the mail. </p><p>“A new chapter in a senior citizen's life,” she joked. “It's been the most fun I've ever had in all my life.” </p><p>Hart, 35, has been riding for 12 years. </p><p>She was also introduced to riding by her husband. </p><p>“At first I was like 'I am not getting on that thing. There is no way you're getting me on that thing,' ” Hart said. “But he took me for a ride, and I was in love.” </p><p>Although she sees many positive reactions, Hart said she constantly gets looks when she's riding because her bike is what's considered a big bike for a woman. </p><p>“I ride a Fat Boy and for most people that's a bigger bike for a woman, so I get hoots and hollers and a 'whoa is she really on that bike?' kind of thing,” Hart said. “But a lot of guys are actually impressed. They're like 'good for you girl,' or 'you go girl,' so it's a lot of fun. I really enjoy it.” </p><p>Hart rides on the back with her husband's bike but said she prefers to be in control. </p><p>Kimbley Rodrigue, who's been riding for about seven years, said she likes the control too, but is really into the freedom she feels on her bike. </p><p>“It's not just control but also a sense of freedom,” Rodrigue said. “The stress stays home. It's really the best stress medicine that anybody can take. It's like, you let the wind blow and it just clears your mind and it calms you, so when you get back home you can handle anything you want to handle after that.” </p><p>Rodrigue said she enjoys the ever-changing scenery when she goes for a ride. </p><p>“It's like you're clicking and changing the channel while you're riding, and you get to see all that God has done around you,” she said. </p><p>Rodrigue said her husband, Brian, is “proud as a peacock” to have a biker wife. </p><p>“Except for when I had a bigger bike than I have now and my husband would get kind of jealous cause all the men would say 'man that's a woman on that bike,' ” Rodrigue said. “I'd just smile and put my thumb up and they'd smile and put their thumbs up.” </p><p>Rodrigue, Hart and Matherne agreed their riding seems to empower other women who don't ride. </p><p>Women in cars often honk the horn and “give props saying things like 'that's a girl on a big bike. That's awesome,' ” the ladies said. </p><p>“So it gives you a sense of pride,” Rodrigue added. </p><p>The American Motorcyclist Association has about 225,000 members. The number of women riders is less than 10 percent, but the number of new women members has increased, driven in part by a higher profile for women on two wheels, more training opportunities and better equipment, said AMA board member Maggie McNally.</p><p>The makers of bikes and gear are reaching out to women like never before through special events and marketing campaigns that include Harley-Davidson's “No Doubts. No Cages.” program.</p><p>Women no longer have to endure jackets, gloves and helmets designed for men. And it's easier to find or modify bikes for shorter bodies, said McNally, the AMA's vice chairwoman and the highest-ranking female in the group's 75-year history.</p><p>Staying true to their femininity, the local women riders said they'd be remiss if they didn't express one other joy about being a biker chick — the clothes. </p><p>“You've got to have the bling,” Hart said. </p><p>Staff Writer Kris Johnson </p><p>can be reached at 857-2207 or kris.johnson@houmatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter @krisLjo.</p>